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Just over 10 years ago I left my 4 children and wife in New York after my job left me and came to Oregon to begin a new career and prepare the way for them to come after me. About 10 weeks into that effort when I felt that I had a chance to actually succeed I was listening to the last concluding choral of the Bach St. John Passion, at the spot where the text says "Erhoere mich!" (Hear me!) when out of no where I found myself singing, shouting the words at full volume, and was shaken for hours afterwards, and can't listen to it today without remembering that time.

I sympathize with David Miller's feeling regarding the Bach Chaconne - only for me it DOES suffice to make me believe in a god. I consider it at the pinnacle of cultural achievements of our species.

Calvin Arnason

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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A 5 year old boy I know was raised in a completely homogeneous, white environment in a foreign country. When he came to the USA for the first time and enrolled in school, he came home one day and confessed that he didn't "like" the Blacks in his class. I believe that this statement was based solely on the fact that the Blacks looked different;ly than he did. I remember how a boy in my second grade who was ostracized due to his flaming red hair. I believe that racial separation breeds racial discrimination.

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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Regarding the contribution of Sarah Meyers who notes that she does not get enough support to pay her bills due to the birth of her daughter and feels bad to be a burden on her parents. I feel that she should feel bad for being a burden on the community from an action that she herself is responsible for (unless she was raped).

This is a generational thing I think ... my parents had a child who was profoundly autistic and they would have been SHAMED to accept any government support for his care.

From a political standpoint the only presidential candidate who understands the basics of debt and value of currency is Ron Paul. If I looked at the government like a person I would have to consider it hopelessly economically ruined.

Calvin Arnason

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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